Non-hypergeometric overlap probability

ABSTRACT

Methods, software, and systems are provided for determining the probability of an overlap set of entities having an overlap size, where the overlap set is independently selected from two sets of non-identical entities. Applications of the invention to microarrays are provided. Probability distributions are provided for determining the probability that the size of an overlap gene set from two different microarrays occurs by chance. Microarray analysis for determining the size of a statistically significant overlap gene set given two different microarrays is described. Overlap set size probability determinations that account for the total number of genes in two different microarrays and not just the common genes are described.

This application is a nonprovisional application, and claims benefitunder 35 USC §119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/088,884, filed 14 Aug. 2008, which provisional application is herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to combinatorics, probability theory, and methods,computer software products, and systems for determining the probabilitythat the number of overlap entities between two sets of differententities is by chance. The invention also relates to methods, products,and systems for determining the probability that the number ofoverlapping genes generated from two different types of microarrays isby chance.

BACKGROUND

Methods for determining the probability of the size of overlap of twosets of data picked independently and randomly from the same populationare known in the art. A method of choice for determining the statisticalsignificance of such an overlap is to employ the hypergeometricdistribution. Methods for determining the probability of overlap of twosets of data picked independently and randomly from two different butoverlapping populations are also known. However, these methods eitheroversimplify the problem in order to employ the hypergeometricdistribution, in which case the accuracy is compromised (except in thelimiting case where the two populations have a complete overlap); or themethods employ a permutation method to determine the probability, inwhich case the solution is also approximate and very time consuming.

For the specific case of microarrays, the use of the hypergeometricdistribution for determining the overlapping probability of two genesignatures derived from two experiments using the same chip type isknown. Further, when the two experiments being compared are fromdifferent chip types, the current practice to so reduce the problem byconsidering only those genes that are common between both chips so thatthe hypergeometric distribution can be utilized. See, for example,GeneSpring™ (Agilent Technologies, Inc.), and Resolver™ (RosettaInpharmatics, LLC). Alternatively, a random permutation technique isavailable in Oncomine™ (Compendia Bioscience Inc.).

Thus, there is a need for a simple and accurate method that candetermine the probability of overlap when the underlying populations aredifferent and overlapping. In particular, there is a need for an easy touse and accurate method of determining the probability of overlapbetween two sets of genes selected from two different but overlappingmicroarray chips.

SUMMARY

Methods, computer products, software, and systems for analyzing sets ofentities derived from two populations are provided. In various aspects,applications for analyzing sets of entities derived from twononidentical populations are provided. The analysis results in acomparative metric comprising a probability score that denotes theprobability that an overlap set, formed by independent draws each fromdifferent and possibly intersecting sets of entities, is obtained bychance, phrased herein as the “overlap probability.” Methods, computerproducts, software, and systems for providing metrics related to orderived from the overlap probability are also provided.

In one aspect, a probability score is determined by a method thatcomprises the steps of: providing a first subset of entities from afirst entity set; providing a second subset of entities from a secondentity set, wherein the first entity set and the second entity set arenot necessarily identical, and wherein the first subset of entities andthe second subset of entities overlap at least in part to form anoverlap set; and determining the probability that this overlap set isdrawn by chance, wherein determining the probability that the overlapset is drawn by chance includes taking into account that the probabilitydepends at least in part of on a function of the total number of ways ofselecting the first subset of entities set from all entities of thefirst entity set and also depends at least in part on a function of thetotal number of ways of selecting the second subset of entities from allentities of the second entity set. In one aspect, the first entity setand the second entity set are not identical.

In a more particular aspect, the probability that the number of overlapset is by chance comprises determining the number of ways of selectingthe overlap set from all entities common to both the first entity setand the second entity set, divided by: (a) the number of ways ofselecting the first subset of entities from the first entity set,multiplied by (b) the number of ways of selecting the second subset ofentities from the second entity set.

In a more particular aspect, the number of ways of selecting the overlapset from all entities common to both the first entity set and the secondentity set is multiplied by a sum, over the minimum of either (a′) thenumber of entities of the first subset of entities that are not commonwith the second subset of entities, or (b′) the number of entitiescommon between the two entity sets excluding the number of entitiescommon between the two subsets, of: (a″) the number of ways of choosingentities in that part of the first subset of entities that are includedin the second entity set but not in the overlap set, from the number ofcommon entities between the two entity sets excluding the overlap set,multiplied by (b″) the number of ways of choosing that part of the firstsubset of entities that are not included in the second entity set, fromthe number of entities in the first entity set excluding the entitiescommon with the second entity set, multiplied by (c″) the number of waysof choosing the number of entities in that part of the second subset ofentities that are not in the overlap set, from the number of entities inthe second entity set excluding those entities in the first subset ofentities.

In a more particular aspect, the overlap probability is determined usingthe formula

${p(m)} = \frac{{C( {M,m} )}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{\min{({{x - m},{M - m}})}}\lbrack {( {C( {{M - m},i} )} )( {C( {{X - M},{x - i - m}} )} )( {C( {{Y - m - i},{y - m}} )} )} \rbrack}}{( {C( {X,x} )} )( {C( {Y,y} )} )}$

wherein:

X is the number of entities in the first entity set;

Y is the number of entities in the second entity set;

M represents the size of the set of entities common to both the firstentity set and the second entity set, or in other words, represents thenumber of entities in common between the first and the second entityset;

x is the number of entities of the first subset of entities chosen fromthe first entity set;

y is the number of entities of the second subset of entities chosen fromthe second entity set;

m is the number of entities in an overlap set, wherein the overlap setis formed by entities common to both the first subset of entities andthe second subset of entities; and,

p(m) is the probability of selecting any overlap set of size m bychance, wherein the overlap set is a set formed by entities common tothe first subset of entities and the second subset of entities.

In various aspects, computer-implemented methods, computer products,software, and systems for determining the comparison metric areprovided, as well as for providing other metrics derived from or relatedto the comparison metric. The aspects include a computer productcomprising computer-readable and computer-implementable instructionscomprising steps for determining the overlap probability in accordancewith the above-described formula. Other metrics derived from or relatedto the comparison metric include, but are not limited to, the size ofthe minimum overlap set at a given statistical significance (e.g.,p-value of a given statistical significance), and the cumulative overlapprobability.

In various aspects, computer-implemented methods, computer softwareproducts, and systems are provided for determining the comparison metricand other metrics derived from or related to the metric are provided forapplication to microarray analysis, where the arrays are not necessarilyidentical. In one aspect, the arrays are not identical. The microarraysinclude, but are not limited to, nucleotide arrays and protein arraysand single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. In various aspects, themicroarrays can comprise, for purposes of illustration but notlimitation, polynucleotides representing genes, biomarkers and singlenucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) polypeptides representing proteins,protein domains and antibodies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The following illustrations are provided to assist in explainingembodiments of the subject matter described herein, and are not intendedto limit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates parameters considered in calculating an overlapprobability (left) and parameters considered in calculatinghypergeometric probability (right).

FIG. 2 illustrates a comparison between overlap probability (left curve;open circles) and hypergeometric probability (right curve; closedcircles).

FIG. 3 illustrates a comparison between overlap probability (left curve;open circles) and hypergeometric probability (right curve; closedcircles).

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a computer-implemented method fordetermining Critical Overlap Size of two gene signatures each from amicroarray study and the probability of the overlap using an overlapprobability method.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a computer-implemented method fordetermining cumulative overlap probability.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a computer-implemented method fordetermining Critical Overlap Size using an overlap probability method.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a computer-implemented method fordetermining overlap probability.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the present methods are described, it is to be understood thatthis invention is not limited to specific methods and experimentalconditions described, as such methods and conditions may vary. It isalso to be understood that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intendedto be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limitedonly by the appended claims.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singularforms “a”, “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. Thus for example, a reference to “a method”includes one or more methods, and/or steps of the type described hereinand/or which will become apparent to those persons skilled in the artupon reading this disclosure.

Unless defined otherwise, or otherwise specified, all technical andscientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonlyunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this inventionpertains.

Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to thosedescribed herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presentinvention, particular methods and materials are now described. Each ofthe recited patents, applications, and publications are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety; cited portions are of the patentsand applications incorporated herein by reference are also independentlyincorporated herein by reference.

The invention is based at least in part on the realization that anaccurate determination of the probability of obtaining an overlap set ofa given size from two subsets of entities independently drawn from twoentity sets, under many circumstances, is not always accurately given bymethods employing the hypergeometric probability. Where the overlap setresults from the overlap of a first subset of entities selected from afirst entity set, and a second subset of entities selected from a secondentity set, and the first entity set is not identical to the secondentity set, the use of hypergeometric probability results in aninaccurate measure of the actual probability of drawing an overlap setof a given size. Instead, an accurate measure of the actual probability,referred to herein as the “overlap probability,” is a function of anexpression that includes considering the product of all number ways ofdrawing the first subset of entities from the first entity set and allnumber of ways of drawing the second subset of entities from the secondentity set.

A formula that incorporates this consideration and provides the overlapprobability is described herein, as well as computer-implementedmethods, a computer software product, and computer systems for analyzingmicroarray data and for providing overlap probability.

Although the majority of the description employs an applicationconcerning gene microarrays, the overlap probability method is notlimited to application to gene microarrays, but can generally be appliedto any two sets of entities. Where the two sets of entities areidentical (i.e., they are made up of the same entities), the overlapprobability will equal the hypergeometric probability. Where the twosets of entities are non-identical (i.e., where some entities exist inone set but not in the other), the hypergeometric probability and theoverlap probability will diverge. In such a case, the overlapprobability will yield the accurate estimation of the actualprobability.

Two microarray experiments that result in identifying an overlapping setof genes (i.e., an overlap set) can provide potentially biologicallysignificant information about the genes in the overlap set, and/or aboutthe samples used in the microarray experiments and/or insights into theunderlying relationship between the two biological studies. It istherefore desirable to determine the likelihood that an overlap setwould occur by chance. If an overlap were very unlikely to occur bychance, then biological significance of the overlap is, generally, morelikely. If a comparison of an observed overlap and a calculated overlapis statistically significant, a stronger inference regarding biologicalsignificance might be made.

The methods, software, and systems described herein can be used todetermine the overlap probability for any array experiment, and, inparticular, for two array experiments wherein the platforms are notidentical. It is intended that the term “genes,” the phrase “gene sets,”the phrase “gene subsets,” and the like, when referring to arrays,includes reference to segments of genes, (e.g., polynucleotidescontaining a sufficient amount of nucleotide sequence to identify thepolynucleotide as belonging to particular whole gene). For example, apolynucleotide of an array can be representative of a gene.

The term “microarray,” or “array,” as used herein is intended to includearticles of manufacture falling within the descriptions of arrays (andmethods of using them) provided in the following U.S. Pat. No. 7,115,364(see, e.g., col. 1, line 57-col. 7, line 20; also, col. 12, line 5-col.22, line 4); U.S. Pat. No. 7,206,439 (see, e.g., col. 4, lines 5-40);U.S. Pat. No. 7,130,458 (see, e.g., col. 5, line 33-col. 7, line 25);U.S. Pat. No. 7,243,112 (see, e.g., col. 4, lines 44-67); U.S. Pat. No.6,691,042 (see, e.g., cols. 1-3); (see, e.g., col. 23, line 32-col. 41,line 19); U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,039 (see, e.g., col. 3, line 49-col. 4,line 59); U.S. Pat. No. 7,361,906 (see, e.g., cols. 1-7, and col. 4,line 60-col. 6, line 13; col. 10, line 11-col. 11, line 58); U.S. Pat.No. 7,353,116 (polymer arrays or chemical arrays; see, e.g. cols. 1-2;col. 3, line 35-col. 4, line 44; U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,352 (e.g., arraysfor determining drug response; see, e.g., col. 43, line 36-col. 50, line27); U.S. Pat. No. 7,291,471 (e.g., cleavable arrays; see, e.g., col.11, line 41-col. 14, line 65); U.S. Pat. No. 7,221,785 (see, e.g., col.10, line 1-col. 12, line 46); U.S. Pat. No. 7,374,927 (e.g., includingcompromised samples, see, e.g., col. 12, line 38-col. 16, line 9); U.S.Pat. No. 7,361,468 (e.g., for SNP analysis, see, e.g., col. 3, line7-col. 5, line 42; also col. 12, line 36-col. 17, line 22); U.S. Pat.No. 7,341,835 (e.g., for splice variants, see, e.g., col. 1, line24-col. 2, line 32; also col. 10, line 40-col. 14, line 22); U.S. Pat.No. 7,323,308 (e.g., for E. coli); U.S. Pat. No. 7,314,750 (e.g., forrats); U.S. Pat. No. 7,312,035 (e.g., for yeast); U.S. Pat. No. 729,777(e.g., for genotyping); U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,948 (e.g., formycobacteria); U.S. Pat. No. 7,250,289 (e.g., mice); U.S. Pat. No.7,144,699 (e.g., sequencing array); U.S. Pat. No. 7,097,976 (e.g.,arrays for detecting allelic imbalance); U.S. Pat. No. 6,927,032 (e.g.,expression-monitoring array); U.S. Pat. No. 6,919,211 (e.g., polypeptidearray); U.S. Pat. No. 6,864,101 (e.g., ligand/polymer array); U.S. Pat.No. 6,746,844 (e.g., signal transduction); U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,586,186 and6,582,908 (e.g., polymorphism array); and TaqMan™ Gene Signature Arrays(Applied Biosystems).

Any suitable array known in the art can be used in connection with themethods, software, and systems described herein. Non-limiting examplesof arrays known in the art are described herein by incorporation byreference. Alternatively, custom arrays may be printed using anyarray-printing method known in the art.

As applied to microarray analysis, overlap probability methods describedherein include methods that calculate significance (i.e., p-values) ofan overlap set of genes of a given size, between two microarrayexperiments. The overlap probability method determines the probabilitythat an observed overlap between two microarray experiments would occurby chance. In various embodiments this can be achieved by calculating anoverlap probability for two microarray experiments, then comparingoverlap observed in the experiment with calculated overlap probabilityfor the two microarrays. If the overlap probability method calculatesthat an observed overlap is unlikely to be observed by chance, then theobserved overlap may have biological significance. Determining thestatistical significance of the comparison can provide support forinferences about a likely biological significance associated with theidentity of the genes of the overlap set.

Biologically significant insights from a microarray comparison analysisfrequently rely on the accuracy of the underlying statistical model usedto analyze the array. Microarray analysis frequently includes comparinggene sets identified under a first set of conditions with gene setsidentified under a second set of conditions, using a differentmicroarray platform, and an overlap gene set identified. Identifyingmembers of the overlap set can lead to biological insights resultingfrom their presence in the overlap set, depending upon the differentconditions. In certain circumstances, identifying members of the overlapset can be dispositive of a biological question, for example, theoverlap set might define a prognostic indicator, a set of biomarkers fora disease or disorder, susceptibility for a disease or disorder, or apharmacogenomically significant expression signature. In order togenerate a reliable overlap set, reliable information about thestatistical significance of the overlap set is often needed.

Depending upon the microarrays used and conditions selected, multiplearray comparisons can sometimes give rise to high degrees of noise andlow reproducibility. In clinical and other practical applications,misidentification of signature profiles can potentially belife-threatening in the case of false negatives, and burdensome forpatients in the case of false positives, both of which are importantconcerns given overlap variability using presently available models thatreveal varying overlap between platforms.

As described above, the overlap probability method is a general methodthat can be used to calculate the statistical significance of theoverlap size between two lists of entities that are derivedindependently from two overlapping populations. One application of themethod is to compare gene lists across different microarray platforms,and even platforms of different species. The method is based at least inpart on the realization that an accurate statistical significance can beachieved by including all genes, shared or not shared, in comparing twomicroarray experiments, including experiments where two microarrays donot assay for all of the same genes. Thus, the probability of observingan overlap set of a defined size depends not simply on the number ofshared genes between the microarray chips (as for the hypergeometricprobability), but on the total number of genes of each microarray chip.

Identification of overlapping gene sets in microarray experiments ispresently mainly achieved using methods that rely on the hypergeometricdistribution. The hypergeometric distribution method assumes that, giventwo sets of genes (i.e., two arrays), the probability that a randomsampling of the two sets of genes would result in any given set is thehypergeometric probability (designated “P(m)”). The hypergeometricprobability essentially describes the probability of obtaining m commongenes from two independent selections of entities of size n₁ and n₂respectively, from a set of n entities. For the application to amicroarray comparison involving X and Y number of genes in two arrayswith M number of common genes between them, wherein x and y number ofgenes are chosen independently from the first array and second array andwhere x′ and y′ denote the number of genes in x and y respectively thatare present in both arrays, the probability that x′ and y′ will have anoverlapping gene set with m members is equal to p(m). Hypergeometricprobability can be calculated from the following formula (Formula I)(where C(a,b)=a!/[b!(a−b)!]):

$\begin{matrix}{{p(m)} = \frac{{C( {x^{\prime},m} )}{C( {{M - x^{\prime}},{y^{\prime} - m}} )}}{C( {M,y^{\prime}} )}} \\{= \frac{\begin{pmatrix}x^{\prime} \\m\end{pmatrix}\begin{pmatrix}{M - x^{\prime}} \\{y^{\prime} - m}\end{pmatrix}}{\begin{pmatrix}M \\y^{\prime}\end{pmatrix}}}\end{matrix}$

However, the inventors have discovered that the hypergeometricdistribution is sub-optimal in many cases for ascertaining an acceptablyaccurate probability of an overlap set being identified by chance fromtwo distinct microarray experiments in which the genes constituting thetwo microarrays are not identical. Considering the expression forhypergeometric probability (above), it generally uses M which is thenumber of genes that the first array and the second array share incommon, rather than the total number of genes in each of the two arrays.Generally speaking, as the total number of genes that the arrays sharein common diverge (i.e., decrease), then the accuracy of thehypergeometric probability weakens, since the hypergeometric probabilityis a function of the number of genes that the arrays share (i.e., M),rather than the total number of genes of each array. Accordingly, thelikelihood of making a Type I or a Type II error increases. In the caseof Type II error, this phenomenon would result in an experimenterfailing to reject a null hypothesis (such as, for example, “there are nodifferences between expression of genes under the two conditions of theexperiment”) associated with a given overlap set generated using datafrom two different arrays, thus failing to detect a statisticallysignificant overlap and accordingly failing to ascribe any biologicalsignificance to the observed overlap set. For many biologicalapplications, for example, in determining gene signatures for a diseaseor disorder, the results can be devastating—even fatal, where apatient's diagnosis or prognosis relies on the accuracy of the overlapprobability determination.

Thus, methods for determining overlap probability that do not rely onhypergeometric probability are provided. The methods as applied tomicroarray analysis include taking into account all of the genes of eachmicroarray experiment, rather than only genes that two microarrays sharein common. In the limiting case where the genes comprising the twoarrays are identical, the overlap probability method can yield the sameaccuracy as the hypergeometric method. In other cases, especially whenthe number of genes shared between arrays is less than the number ofgenes in the smaller of the two arrays, the overlap probability methodcan provide higher statistical accuracy and thus in many instancesdecrease the likelihood of false negatives (or positives) in identifyingstatistically and/or biologically significant overlap sets.

Differences between the hypergeometric probability approach and theoverlap probability approach can be illustrated by reference to FIG. 1.In FIG. 1, referring to the Venn diagram to the left of the figure, thebig oval on the left represents the gene set of a first microarray anduppercase X refers to the total number of genes in this gene set, andthe big oval on the right represents the gene set of a second microarrayand uppercase Y refers to the total number of genes in this secondmicroarray. Uppercase M represents the number of genes in common betweentwo arrays. Cross-hatched lowercase x represents the size of a subset ofgenes (i.e., a subset of genes of interest in a microarray experiment)on the first microarray chip. Cross-hatched lowercase y represents thesize of a subset of genes (i.e., a subset of genes of interest in amicroarray experiment) on the second microarray chip (uppercase Y). Thesize of the intersection between the two cross-hatched is denoted as m,which is the same lowercase m as used in calculating hypergeometricprobability and which represents an overlap of the subset of genes ofinterest of the first array and the subset of genes of interest on thesecond array. Thus, referring to the left diagram in FIG. 1, the overlapprobability (i.e., the probability of drawing a lowercase m of a givensize) includes consideration of the probability of drawing lowercase xelements from X multiplied by the probability of drawing lowercase yelements from Y.

Referring now to the right diagram of FIG. 1, which illustrates theparameters considered using the hypergeometric method, M is the numberof genes common between the two arrays, x′ is the size of a portion ofthe subset of genes of interest on the first microarray chip that arealso present on the second microarray chip (this portion is the same asthe intersection between the cross-hatched lower case x number of firstsubset genes from the first microarray and the M number of common genesbetween the two microarray chips, as shown on the left diagram of FIG.1.), y′ is the size of a portion of a subset of genes of interest on thesecond microarray chip that are also present on the first microarraychip (this portion is the same as the intersection between the lowercase y number of cross-hatched second subset genes from the secondmicroarray and the M number of common genes between the two microarraychips, as shown on the left diagram of FIG. 1), and lowercase mrepresents the number of an overlap of the subset of genes of intereston the first microarray and the subset of genes of interest on thesecond microarray (i.e., the same m as employed in the overlapprobability method). As seen from the right diagram of FIG. 1, thehypergeometric method does not consider draws from the total number ofgenes on each microarray chip, but instead considers only draws from thegenes common to both microarray chips (i.e., draws from uppercase Mnumber of genes). Thus, the hypergeometric distribution does notconsider, in calculating probability of drawing a lowercase m of a givensize, the probability of selecting a subset of genes from the totalnumber of genes in either array, but only the probability of selectingx′ or y′ number of genes from the overlap genes (of size M) of bothchips. Accordingly, in the case that the first microarray chip consiststhe same gene set as the second microarray chip, the probability ofgetting m number of overlap by random chance is the same by using eitherhypergeometric distribution or overlap probability calculation, becausein this case X=Y=M, x′=x, and y′=y. However, in the cases where the twochips do not consist of the same gene set, the probabilities calculatedfrom the two methods frequently are very different, with the overlapprobability method being more accurate. As a result, highly inaccurateprobabilities generated from hypergeometric distribution will very oftenresult in false acceptance or rejection of null hypotheses.

Accordingly, the probability that an overlap set is selected by chanceis given by the overlap probability p(m), which is given by thefollowing formula (Formula II):

${p(m)} = \frac{{C( {M,m} )}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{\min{({{x - m},{M - m}})}}\lbrack {( {C( {{M - m},i} )} )( {C( {{X - M},{x - i - m}} )} )( {C( {{Y - m - i},{y - m}} )} )} \rbrack}}{( {C( {X,x} )} )( {C( {Y,y} )} )}$

Referring to Formula II, X refers to the number of all genes of a firstmicroarray chip; Y refers to the number of all genes of a secondmicroarray chip; M refers to the number of genes common to the firstmicroarray chip and the second microarray chip; lowercase x refers tothe size of a subset of genes of interest on the first microarray chip;lowercase y refers to the size of a subset of genes of interest on thesecond microarray chip; m refers to the size of an overlap set formed bythe genes of interest from the first microarray of size lowercase x andthe genes of interest from the second microarray of size lowercase y; irefers to the number of genes of interest in the first array that arenot included in the overlap set but are included in both arrays; C(M,m)refers to the number of possible ways of choosing m number of genes fromthe set of common genes between the two microarrays (with uppercase Mnumber of genes); C(X,x) and C(Y,y) refer, respectively, to the numberof possibilities of choosing lowercase x number of genes of interestfrom the first microarray (with uppercase X number of genes) and thenumber of possibilities of choosing lowercase y number of genes from thesecond microarray (with uppercase Y number of genes).

In short, the overlap probability considers all possible ways of drawinga first subset of genes of interest from a first microarray (i.e., allpossible ways of selecting x from X) multiplied by all possible ways ofdrawing a second subset of genes of interest from a second microarray(i.e., all possible ways of selecting y from Y). The overlap probabilitymethod employs the above consideration as denominator to provide adividend (i.e., the overlap probability) when considered with anumerator that multiplies all number of ways of picking an overlap setof genes of interest from genes common to both arrays (i.e., all ways ofdrawing lowercase m from uppercase M) by a sum, over the minimum ofeither (a′) the number of genes of the first subset of genes that arenot common with the second subset of genes (i.e. x−m), or (b′) thenumber of genes common between the two microarrays excluding the numberof genes common between the two subsets of genes (i.e. M−m), of: (a″)the number of ways of choosing genes in that part of the first subset ofgenes that are included in the second microarray but not in the overlapset, from the number of common genes between the two microarraysexcluding the overlap set (i.e., C(M−m,i), multiplied by (b″) the numberof ways of choosing that part of the first subset of genes that are notincluded in the second microarray, from the number of genes in the firstmicroarray excluding the genes common with the second microarray (i.e.,C(X−M, x−i−m)), multiplied by (c″) the number of ways of choosing thenumber of genes in that part of the second subset of genes that are notin the overlap set, from the number of genes in the second microarrayexcluding those genes in the first subset of genes (i.e., C(Y−m−i, y−m).

As can be seen from the formula and the explanation above, the overlapprobability method can be distinguished from the hypergeometricprobability in that the overlap probability method takes into accountthe total number of genes, uppercase X and uppercase Y, present on eachof the microarrays. The overlap probability method does this byconsidering all possible ways of drawing a first subset of genes from afirst microarray (i.e., all possible ways of selecting a subset of xnumber of genes from X number of genes in the first microarray)multiplied by all possible ways of drawing a second subset of genes ofsize y from a second microarray of size Y. This distinguishing featureof the overlap probability method represents a significant departureover the hypergeometric method.

Determining draw probabilities by taking into account the total numberof genes on both microarray chips, without respect to whether genes areshared or not, increases the overall sample size for the selection of asubset genes. As a result, statistical accuracy is increased. Becausestatistical accuracy increases, the likelihood of falsely accepting orrejecting a null hypothesis decreases which in practice results inbetter inference of biological results.

Various aspects and embodiments employing overlap probability methodsconcerning applications to biological array analysis are presentedbelow.

In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for analyzing data from twomicroarrays, comprising:

providing a first gene subset from a first microarray;

providing a second gene subset from a second microarray, wherein thefirst microarray and the second microarray comprise a different set ofgenes, and wherein the first gene subset and the second gene subset mayor may not overlap (overlap size>=0);

determining the probability that the overlap set is drawn by chance,wherein the probability that the overlap set is drawn by chancecomprises a function of the total number of ways of selecting the firstgene subset from all genes of the first microarray and comprises afunction of the total number of ways of selecting the second gene subsetfrom all genes of the second microarray.

In one embodiment, wherein the probability that the overlap set isselected by chance comprises a dividend of the number of ways ofselecting the overlap set from all genes common to both the firstmicroarray and the second microarray, divided by: (a) the number of waysof selecting the first gene set from the first microarray, multiplied by(b) the number of ways of selecting the second gene set from the secondmicroarray.

In another embodiment, the number of ways of selecting the overlap setof all genes common to both the first microarray and the secondmicroarray is multiplied by a sum, over the minimum of either (a′) thenumber of genes of the first subset of genes that are not common withthe second subset of genes, or (b′) the number of genes common betweenthe two microarrays excluding the number of genes common between the twosubsets of genes, of: (a″) the number of ways of choosing genes in thatpart of the first subset of genes that are included in the secondmicroarray but not in the overlap set, from the number of common genesbetween the two microarrays excluding the overlap set, multiplied by(b″) the number of ways of choosing that part of the first subset ofgenes that are not included in the second microarray, from the number ofgenes in the first microarray excluding the genes common with the secondmicroarray, multiplied by (c″) the number of ways of choosing the numberof genes in that part of the second subset of genes that are not in theoverlap set, from the number of genes in the second microarray excludingthose genes in the first subset of genes.

In another embodiment, the overlap probability is determined by thefollowing formula (Formula II):

${p(m)} = \frac{{C( {M,m} )}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{\min{({{x - m},{M - m}})}}\lbrack {( {C( {{M - m},i} )} )( {C( {{X - M},{x - i - m}} )} )( {C( {{Y - m - i},{y - m}} )} )} \rbrack}}{( {C( {X,x} )} )( {C( {Y,y} )} )}$

wherein:

X is the total number of entities in the first array;

Y is the total number of entities in the second array;

M represents the number of entities common to both the first array andthe second array;

m is the number of entities in the overlap set;

x is the number of entities of the first entity subset;

y is the number of entities of the second entity subset; and,

p(m) is the probability of selecting the overlap set by chance.

In various embodiments, the entities are selected from genes, proteins,ligands, and antibodies.

In one embodiment, X represents the total number of genes of a firstgene array and Y represents the total number of genes of a second genearray.

In one embodiment x and y represent the number of genes in gene sets. Inanother embodiment, x and/or y denote the size of sets of genes that aredifferentially expressed in a disease or a disorder, in comparison to asample from an individual who is not afflicted with the disease ordisorder. In another embodiment, x and/or y represent the size of setsof genes whose differential expression are a prognostic indicator for adisease or disorder. In another embodiment, x and/or y represent thesize of sets of genes of an individual treated with a selectedpharmaceutical substance, and the expression level of these genes areindicative of the efficacy of the selected pharmaceutical substance intreating a disease or a disorder. In another embodiment, x and yrepresent the size of sets of genes having one or more single nucleotidepolymorphisms. In another embodiment, x and/or y represent the size ofsets of genes that identify a genotype or a haplotype. In anotherembodiment, x and/or y represent the size of sets of genes that identifyan individual to the exclusion of other individuals in a definedpopulation. In another embodiment, x and y represent the number of genesthat are commonly regulated by a cytokine.

In one embodiment, the overlap set represents a set of genes employed asa prognostic indicator. In another embodiment, the overlap setrepresents a set of genes that comprise an expression signature for adisease or a disorder. In another embodiment, the overlap set representsa set of genes that is pharmacogenomic signature, for example, anexpression pattern of cell from a human subject that indicatessuitability or unsuitability in responding to a therapeutic treatmentwith an approved pharmaceutical. In another embodiment, the overlap setrepresents a set of genes common to two biological pathways, forexample, an inflammatory pathway and a cytokine regulation pathway.

In one embodiment, the first gene subset and the second gene subset areindependently selected from the group consisting of: genesdifferentially regulated in a disorder, genes differentially regulatedin development, genes differentially regulated between individualsamples being assayed.

In one embodiment, the array is a gene array and the first array and thesecond array differ by at least 1% of the total number of genes of thefirst and the second array. In another embodiment, the first array andthe second array differ by at least 10% of the total number of genes ofthe first array and the second array. In another embodiment, the firstarray and the second array differ by at least 20% of the total number ofgenes of the first array and the second array. In another embodiment,the first array and the second array differ by about 10%, about 20%,about 30%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, orabout 90% of the total number of genes of the first array and the secondarray.

In another aspect, a computer program product is provided, comprising acomputer-readable medium comprising instructions encoded thereon forcarrying out a method as described herein. In various embodiments thecomputer program product enables a computer having a processor todetermine an overlap probability as described herein. In variousembodiments, the computer program product is encoded such that theprogram, when implemented by a suitable computer or system, can receiveall parameters necessary to determine an overlap probability (seeFormula 2) and return at least one overlap probability value.

In another aspect, a computer system for determining overlap probabilityis provided, wherein the system comprises a processor and memory coupledto the processor, and wherein the memory encodes one or more computerprograms that causes the processor to determine an overlap probability.In various embodiments, the memory encodes one or more computer programsthat cause the processor to determine a least significant overlap (i.e.,Critical Overlap Size, or m^(COS), for a given statistical significanceS) or a cumulative overlap probability.

In one embodiment, the memory comprises instructions for determiningoverlap probability in accordance with Formula II.

The computer software product may be written using any suitableprogramming language known in the art. System components used with theinvention may include any suitable hardware known in the art. Suitableprogramming language and suitable hardware system components, includethose described in the following U.S. Pat. No. 7,197,400 (see, e.g.,cols. 8-9), U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,042 (see, e.g., cols. 12-25); U.S. Pat.No. 6,245,517 (see, e.g., cols. 16-17); U.S. Pat. No. 7,272,584 (see,e.g., col. 4, line 26-col. 5, line 18); U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,987 (see,e.g., cols. 19-20); U.S. Pat. No. 7,386,523 (see, e.g., col. 2, line26-col. 3, line 3; see also, col. 8, line 21-col. 9, line 52); U.S. Pat.No. 7,353,116 (see, e.g., col. 5, line 50-col. 6, line 5); U.S. Pat. No.5,965,352 (see, e.g., col. 31, line 37-col. 32, line 21).

In one embodiment, the computer system that is capable of executing thecomputer-implemented methods herein comprises a processor, a fixedstorage medium (i.e., a hard drive), system memory (e.g., RAM and/orROM), a keyboard, a display (e.g., a monitor), a data input device(e.g., a device capable of providing raw or transformed microarray datato the system), and optionally a drive capable of reading and/or writingcomputer-readable media (i.e., removable storage, e.g., a CD or DVDdrive). The system optionally also comprises a network input/outputdevice and a device allowing connection to the internet.

In one embodiment, the computer-readable instructions (e.g., a computersoftware product) enabling the system to calculate an overlapprobability as described herein (i.e., software for calculating aprobability according to Formula 2) are encoded on the fixed storagemedium and enable the system to display the overlap probability to auser, or to provide the result of an overlap probability to a second setof computer-readable instructions (i.e., a second program), or to sendthe overlap probability to a data structure residing on the fixedstorage medium or to another network computer or to a remote locationthrough the internet.

In one embodiment, the system is capable of receiving microarray datadirectly from a microarray reader functionally linked to the system.Functional linkage refers to the ability of the microarray reader tosend microarray signal data, or transformed microarray signal data, in acomputer-readable form to the system. In this embodiment, the systemfurther comprises any suitable microarray software known in the art formanipulating raw microarray data. Suitable software for manipulating rawmicroarray data includes, for example, software capable of correcting ornormalizing microarray data, building a data structure of transformedmicroarray data, and/or placing microarray data in a format suitable forinput into the overlap probability software described herein. By way ofexample and not by way of limitation, suitable software includesGeneChip™ software, GeneSpring™ software, and Resolver™ software.

In one aspect, a microarray analysis system is provided, comprising amicroarray reader functionally linked to a computer system comprising aninput/output device capable of receiving data from the microarrayreader, a processor, a fixed storage medium, and connectivity to anetwork and/or the internet, wherein on the microarray reader or onfixed storage medium (in physical proximity to the system or accessiblethrough a network or the internet) is at least one computer softwareproduct for transforming raw microarray data (e.g., normalizing anderror-correcting raw microarray data) and at least one computer softwareproduct for calculating an overlap probability as described herein fromthe transformed (e.g., normalized and/or corrected) microarray data.

Suitable microarray readers include those capable of detecting one ormore fluorescence signals and converting the signals to a suitable dataformat, for example, signal intensity. Examples of microarray readersinclude Agilent's DNA Microarray Scanner (optionally with FeatureExtraction Software™); Affymetrix's GeneChip™ Array Station or GeneChip™Scanner 3000; Axon GenePix™ 4000 series scanners; ArrayWorx™ biochip andmicroarray scanners; GeneFocus DNAscope™ scanners; Genomic SolutionsGeneTAC™ scanners; Packard Biosciences ScanArray™ series scanners;Virtek Visions' ChipReader™ scanners; ArrayIt InnoScan™ scanners.

The systems can comprise software products for transforming microarraydata into convenient forms or data structures, and writing thetransformed data or data structures to a computer-readable medium, suchas, for example, GeneSpring™, Resolver™, Oncomine™, Able ImageAnalyzer™, AIDA Array Metrix™, ArrayFox™, ArrayPro Analyzer™,ArrayVision™, Dapple, F-scan, GenPix™, GeneSpotter™, GridGrinder,ImaGene™, Iconoclust™, IPlab Microarray Suite™, Lucidea AutomatedSpotfinder™, Matarray, Phoretix™, P-scan™, QuantArray™, ScanAlyze, Spot,SpotReader, TIGR Spotfinder, and USCF Spot.

In various embodiments, methods, computer program products, and systemsfor determining a least significant overlap (i.e., Critical OverlapSize, or m^(COS), for a given statistical significance S) of twomicroarray studies are provided. Methods for determining the leastsignificant overlap (Critical Overlap Size) return the size of thesmallest overlap set that is statistically significant given a set ofparameters associated with two studies.

FIG. 4 illustrates a graphical representation of method for calculatingleast significant overlap (i.e., Critical Overlap Size) between twostudies (Study A and Study B) of microarray data. In the embodimentillustrated, the two microarray studies are carried out on two differentmicroarray platforms (“Pa” and “Pb”). X and Y parameters are assignedthe values of the number of genes on each platform. M is assigned thevalue of the number of genes common between Pa and Pb. If necessary,genes can be mapped across the platforms (and/or across species) using asuitable linking identifiers such as, for example, Unigene orHomologene; and tools such as available in GeneSpring™, Resolver™.

Gene lists (i.e., subsets of genes of interest from each microarray) arethen prepared from each platform. Gene list La is created from Study Ausing platform Pa, and gene list Lb is created from Study B usingplatform Pb by independently filtering genes in each study using asuitable filtering technique. Any suitable filtering technique known inthe art can be used. In one embodiment, the suitable filtering techniqueemploys fold-change and t-test p-value, and the filtering technique usedto generate La is the same filtering technique used to generate Lb.

The number of genes in La and Lb are determined and assigned to x and y.The number of overlapping genes between La and Lb is determined andassigned to m.

Parameters X, Y, M, x, y, and m are used to calculate overlapprobability and to obtain the cumulative probability for the overlap.The least significant overlap, or Critical Overlap Size, is alsodetermined.

In various embodiments, methods, computer program products, and systemsfor determining a cumulative overlap probability for an overlap set twomicroarrays is provided. Methods for determining the cumulative overlapprobability return the cumulative probability (as measured by the areaunder the m vs. p(m) curve) associated with an m of a given sizeprovided for a set of parameters for two microarrays.

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a computer-implemented method fordetermining cumulative overlap probability. In this embodiment, thesoftware program receives values for parameters X, Y, M, x, y, and m.The program initializes a=0, and Sum=0. The parameters are then sent toa module for calculating overlap probability, iterating from a=0 to thevalue of the parameter (m−1) (i.e., the size of the overlap group minusone) to determine overlap probability for each value of a. When the sizeof the overlap group is reached (i.e., m is attained), the cumulativeoverlap probability is determined by adding the overlap probabilityvalues (from a=0 to a=m−1) and then subtracting this sum from 1, anddisplayed. Alternatively, the cumulative overlap probability can becalculated as the sum of the overlap probabilities obtained by varying afrom m to the minimum of (x,y,M). However, this might take a lot of timeto calculate when the parameters involved are large numbers, which as anexample is typical with microarrays.

In another embodiment, a computer-implemented method for determining theCritical Overlap Size (m^(COS)) with a specified statisticalsignificance (i.e. p-value; e.g., 0.05) is provided. FIG. 6 illustratesone embodiment for a software program that calculates the CriticalOverlap Size (m^(COS)) with a specific significance level of cumulativeoverlap probability. In this embodiment, the program receives values forparameters X, Y, M, x, y and S and initializes m_(max) as the least ofx, y, and M, m=0 and Sum=0. The program sends the parameters to a moduleor set of steps for calculating cumulative overlap probability (oroverlap probability which in general is less desired to the cumulativevalue), iterating from m=0 to the value of the parameter m_(max), andobtains p(m) for each value. The cumulative overlap probability at eachm is determined until a cumulative overlap probability of less than S isreached, and the m value (size of overlap) is returned for the p(m) thatfalls below S. The stringency of the p-value (S) can be varied and 0.05is a typical example.

In various embodiments, methods, computer program products, and systemsfor determining overlap probability for two microarrays having anon-identical set of genes are provided. Methods for determining theoverlap probability return a p-value for a given overlap set m, given aset of parameters associated with two microarrays.

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a computer-implemented method fordetermining overlap probability. In this embodiment, the softwareprogram receives values for parameters X, Y, M, x, y, and m. The numberof iterations is determined, i.e., If (x−m)<(M−m), then iterations are(x−m); if (x−m)≧(M−m), then iterations are (M−m). The program then sumsover the iterations the product of (C(M−m,i) C(X−M, x−i−m) C(Y−m−i, y−m)until maximum iteration is achieved, after which it calculates P(m),given by C(M,m)·sum/[C(X,x)·C(Y,y)]. Finally, it returns (e.g.,displays) the overlap probability P(m).

Overlap probability as determined by the formula described herein agreedwell with overlap probability determined by an iterative simulation fortwo exemplary microarrays of 10 and 11 genes (see Example 1).Accordingly, the overlap probability formula provides an accuratedetermination of overlap probability.

When the overlap probability formula is employed with publishedmicroarray data (i.e., with actual gene lists, or gene subsets), itcompares excellently with a simulation employing the same publishedmicroarray data (see Examples 2 and 4).

Comparison of the overlap probability formula and the hypergeometricprobability formula, using published microarray data, demonstrated thatunder certain circumstances, the hypergeometric probability greatlyunderestimates that significance of observed overlap sets (see Example3).

The methods, computer products, and systems described herein can be usedto analyze any microarray data for which an overlap set is obtained andwherein knowledge about the statistical significance of an overlap setis desired. Examples include, but are not limited to, those describedbelow.

In one example, the methods, products, and systems can be used toanalyze microarray experiments for comparing two sets of signature genesfor a disease or a disorder (e.g., a particular gene subset of interestx and a particular gene subset of interest y) determined by any methodin the art. The overlap probability can assist in determining whetherthe overlap set defines a signature for a disease or a disorder with agiven level of statistical significance.

In another example, two arrays of antibodies or binding fragments orelements thereof exposed to a sample comprising an antigen or hapten,wherein the antigen or hapten is labeled or exposed to a labeled bindingprotein in a sandwich-type assay, can be analyzed to determine whetherthe overlap set contains a statistically significant group of antibodiesassociated with specific antigens. This method can be employed todetermine phenotypic differences between samples, e.g., between normaland diseased cells, or between cell types.

In another example, two protein arrays can be exposed to one or moresamples comprising antibodies or binding fragments or elements thereof,or ligands, wherein binding to the array can be directly or indirectlydetected, and the results can be analyzed with the methods herein todetermine the statistical significance of an overlap set of proteinsassociated with antibodies or ligands. If the samples are independentlyselected, a statistically significant overlap set can be used todetermine what antibodies or ligands the individual samples share. Thismethod can be used to determine phenotypic differences reflected byantibody or ligand repertoires between individuals.

In another example, two arrays of polynucleotides can be exposed tosamples comprising genes with mutations or single nucleotidepolymorphisms (i.e., SNPs), wherein the arrays comprise genes or genesegments that identify the SNPs and provide a genotype, and an overlapset can be examined to determine whether the samples are related, e.g.,to determine consanguinity or identity, and at what statisticalsignificance using a method as described herein.

In another example, two microarray studies can be compared to determinethe statistical significance of overlapping disease gene lists, forexample, as shown in Example 2, the significance of overlap diseasegenes lists from systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) andrheumatoid arthritis (RA) studies. The existence of a significantoverlap between the two studies provides evidence that SJIA and RA mayresult from defects or disorders in similar pathways, and that atherapeutic intervention effective against one disorder (e.g., SJIA) islikely to be effective against the other disorder (e.g., RA). In thisexample, SJIA patients can be assigned to a clinical trial for treatmentwith an agent that is effective against RA. Conversely, RA patients canbe assigned to a clinical trial for treatment of an agent that iseffective against SJIA.

Accordingly, a method for determining the likelihood that a treatmentfor a disorder will be effective is provided. The method comprisesdetermining the overlap of a first gene list which registers the drugeffect by comparing expression profiles of samples before and aftertreatment from a group of patients that is effectively treated with apharmaceutically effective composition; and a second gene list whichregisters another disease by comparing the second disease samples withnormal controls, using Formula 2; wherein if Formula 2 indicates thatthe overlap group is statistically significant, second group of patientscan be a good indication for a clinical trial with the pharmaceuticallyeffective composition.

For example, expression profiling studies of normal subjects comparedwith subjects having oral cancer revealed a subset of genes whoseexpression is elevated in oral cancer. See, U.S. Pat. No. 7,108,969.Comparing an expression profile of a subject with oral cancer with anexpression profile of a subject who has not been diagnosed with oralcancer, and determining an overlap in elevated expression for the subsetof genes whose expression is elevated in oral cancer can be carried out.Identification of an overlap set of overexpressed genes, and obtainingthe probability of obtaining such an overlap set by chance as measuredby the methods described herein, can assist a clinician in determiningthe likelihood that the test subject has oral cancer.

In another example, prognostic indicators comprising microarraysignatures have been determined from populations of subjects havingbreast cancer. See, van de Vijver et al. (2002) A Gene-expressionSignature as a Predictor of Survival in Breast Cancer, N. Eng. J. Med.347/25:1999-2009. The gene expression signatures were a more powerfulpredictor of outcome in young patients with breast cancer than wereexisting systems based on clinical and histological criteria.

At least one clinical study (the “Microarray In Node Negative Diseasemay Avoid ChemoTherapy” trial) has been implemented to providedefinitive evidence concerning a 70-gene prognostic expression signaturein breast cancer in order to assign patients to treatment groups basedon gene expression signatures. See, e.g., Bogaerts et al. (2006) Genesignature evaluation as a prognostic tool: challenges in the design ofthe MINDACT trial, Nat. Clin. Pract. Oncol. 3/10:540-551; see also,Cardoso et al. (2008) Clinical application of the 70-gene profile: theMINDACT trial, J. Clin. Oncol. 26/5:729-35.

Although the above examples address breast cancer, microarray signatureshave been found, and are being developed, for a variety of diseases suchas, for example, cancers of the prostate, lung, ovaries, bladder,lymphoma, medulloblastoma, glioma, acute myeloid leukemia, etc. (see,e.g., Glinsky et al. (2005) J. Clin. Invest. 115/6:1503-1521. A personof skill would recognize that the methods, software, and systemsdescribed herein can also be applied to these signatures); early-stageesophageal adenocarcinoma (see, e.g., Oh et al. (2007) Molecularsignature of esophageal adenocarcinoma derived from microarray analysisof paraffin-embedded specimens predicts systemic recurrence followingresection, J. Clin. Oncol. 25/185(Supplement):4563 (Abstract, 2007 ASCOAnnual Meeting Proceedings (Post-Meeting Edition)).

Clinically useful molecular phenotyping using microarrays is not limitedto cancer. Such phenotypes have been identified in other diseases ordisorders, e.g., atherosclerosis (see, e.g., Seo et al. (2004) GeneExpression Phenotypes of Atherosclerosis, Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc.Biol. 24:1922-1927.

Thus, identification of a prognostic signature in a patient wouldidentify those patients who would benefit from further treatment inorder to reduce the likelihood of mortality due to, e.g.,undertreatment. The methods described herein can be used to accuratelydetermine the overlap probability between an expression profile of areference breast cancer subject in a good or a poor prognosis group anda test breast cancer subject with an undetermined prognosis. The methodsprovided herein would provide an accurate measure of statisticalsignificance of the overlap group (e.g., a common prognostic signature).

Microarray analysis in clinical medicine, genotyping, and phenotypinghas a well-established utility. The ability to accurately determine thestatistical significance of an overlap group (e.g., generated to testfor a disease or prognostic signature) when analyzing microarray studiesfrom nonidentical platforms enhances reliability and thus enhances thewell-established utility of microarray studies in the clinical context.

The methods and systems described herein are not limited to microarrayanalysis, but is generally applicable to determining the probability ofobtaining an overlap set of a given size from two subsets of entitiesindependently drawn without replacement from two entity sets, whatevertype of data the two entity sets comprise.

In one example unrelated to microarray analysis, the methods and systemscan be used to reveal a possible relationship between two sets ofsociological data that are not obviously related. For example, a firststudy assesses all male minors in community C (representing X in Formula2) describes the number of male minors of community C using illegaldrugs (representing x in Formula 2); and a second study assesses allpersons in high-income households in community C (representing Y inFormula 2), ascertains the number of such persons using illegal drugs(representing y in Formula 2). The number of male minors in community Cfrom high-income households (representing M in Formula 2) and the numberof male minors using drugs in high income families in community C(representing m in Formula 2) can be used to calculate the significanceof the overlap group (m, the number of male minors using drugs in highincome families in community C). If m is significant, then there islikely to be a relationship between the use of drugs and family incomein male minors in community C.

Accordingly, methods, software, and systems for determining overlapprobability of two nonidentical studies are also provided.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are included to provide those of skill in the arthow to make and use the methods and compositions described herein, andare not intended to limit the scope of what the inventors regard astheir invention.

Example 1 Overlap Probability by Formula Compared with OverlapProbability Determined by a Simulation

An illustrative simulation was performed in which p-values generated byan iterative simulation were determined and compared with the output ofthe overlap probability formula described herein. This simulationillustrated that p-values generated by the simulation are quite similarto p-values generated using the overlap probability formula. Thesimulation was performed for a simple case for a first entity setcomprised of X number of entities and a second entity set of size Y,where the two entity sets have a common set of entities of size M. Asubset entity of size x is chosen from the first entity set and a subsetentity of size y is chosen from the second entity set, where the numberof entities in common between the subsets is represented by m. Briefly,for step 1, the protocol arbitrarily chooses fixed values of X, Y, M, x,and y (X>=x; Y>=y, X>=M; Y>=M); for step 2, entity sets of size X and Ywith an overlap of size M were generated randomly; for step 3, thesimulation performed random picks of x number of entities from firstentity set, and y number of entities from second entity set, determiningan m for each pair of picks. Step 3 was repeated a large number of times(about 10⁸ iterations), and the value of m was recorded for eachrepetition. This protocol was carried out for low values of X, Y, M, xand y in order to obtain results for all values of m. Average p-valuesfrom three simulation runs each with 10⁸ iterations are shown in Table Ifor this simulation, where X=10, Y=11, M=7, x=3, and y=4.

TABLE I Illustrative Example of Overlap Method p-value m Overlap MethodSimulation (Average) 0 0.3820202 0.382028233 1 0.4793939 0.479371833 20.1315151 0.131523633 3 0.0070707 0.0070763 >4 0 0

The illustrative simulation reveals that the overlap probability formulaaccurately estimated the overlap probability as compared to asimulation.

Example 2 Overlap Probability Simulation with Microarray Data

Overlap probability was determined in a simulation using actualmicroarray data. Data generated by an Affymetrix U133Plus Chip™ (Fall N,et al. (2007) Arthritis Rheum. 56(11):3793-804) and an Invitrogen GF211Chip™ (Liu, Z. et al. (2006) Hum Mol Genet. 15(3):501-9.) were subjectedto a simulation protocol. The protocol took more than 578 hours tocomplete on an Intel Xeon™ 2.8 Ghz processor running in a cluster havinga total memory of 2 GB. Data for each chip were obtained from peripheralblood mononuclear cells of patients provided through the NCBI GEOdatabase.

Fall et al. studied gene expression profiles of patients with SystemicJuvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA) (the “SJIA Study”). An analysis ofthe SJIA study revealed a set of 805 genes that were significant anddifferentially expressed (upregulated) in SJIA as compared to normalpatients (column x in Table 2).

Liu et al. studied expression profiles of various auto-immune diseasesincluding Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (ERA),Type I diabetes/insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), SystemicLupus Erythematosus (SLE), and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (the “AutoimmuneStudy”). The Autoimmune Study contained two groups of controlscontaining healthy individuals with or without any family history ofautoimmune disease. Controls without a family history of autoimmunedisease were considered similar to the analysis with the SJIA data(i.e., “normal” individuals from the different studies were consideredequivalent for control purposes).

A pairwise analysis was performed for each disease group againstcontrols and gene lists with significantly upregulated genes wereidentified. The number of genes obtained for each disease type is listedin Table 2, column y. The SJIA genelist was then compared, pairwise,with each genelist from the Autoimmune Study and the overlap determined.The cumulative-value (p^(c)) for the overlap was calculated using thehypergeometric probability method (HG) and the overlap probabilitymethod (OP). Results are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Overlap Probabilities between SJIA Genelist and AutoimmuneDisease Genelists x y x′ y′ m p^(c) (OP) p^(c) (HG) SJIA vs. RA 805 329236 312 38 3.55E−15 0.000172 SJIA vs. ERA 805 500 236 479 43 1.67E−120.026989 SJIA vs. IDDM 805 408 236 393 39 7.06E−13 0.007471 SJIA vs. MS805 437 236 420 41 3.34E−13 0.008079 SJIA vs. SLE 805 214 236 207 221.97E−08 0.020843 HG = hypergeometric probability OP = overlapprobability

Results revealed that p-values determined by the overlap probabilitymethod indicated a highly significant overlap between the SJIA Study andeach of the Autoimmune Study gene lists. In contrast, the hypergeometricprobabilities for the same comparisons were many orders of magnitudeless significant. Further, among the overlapping genes (ranging from 22to 43), 13 were common in all five comparisons, and 35 genes occurred ina majority of them. These overlapping genes were then submitted toIngenuity Pathway Analysis™ (Ingenuity Systems, Inc., Redwood, Calif.)in order to determine if they shared any common pathways, to assist inexploring any apparent biological basis for the significant overlap.Ingenuity Pathway Analysis™ revealed that the overlapping genes sharemany genes in the interleukin and TNF pathways (data not shown).

Example 3 Comparison of Overlap Probability and HypergeometricProbability Methods

The SJIA Study and the Autoimmune Study were used to compare the overlapprobability and hypergeometric probability methods. First, a standardprotocol was used to analyze the datasets independent from theprobability comparison. A Student's t-test with Benjamini-Hochbergcorrection was performed. Genes having a p-value of less than 0.1 werechosen, and gene lists were formed by those genes that were up-regulated1.5-fold or more in the diseased group as compared to the control group.Probe IDs of the resulting genelist genes were translated to Unigene IDsin order to facilitate comparison across platforms. Microarray analysisand translation were performed using GeneSpring GX 7.3™ (GeneSpiderupdated Dec. 12, 2007). The number of unique Unigene IDs that resultedfrom the translation was 30,877 for the U133Plus Chip™ (X) and 3,690 forthe GF211 Chip™ (Y). Common genes between the two chips were numbered at3,489 (M). The number of genes of interest representing the SJIAsignature on the U133Plus Chip™ was 805 (x) of which 236 (x′) were alsoon the GF211 Chip™. The number of genes of interest representing the RAsignature on the GF211 Chip™ was 329 (y) of which 312 (y′) were alsopresent on the U133Plus Chip™. Using these parameters, overlapprobability and hypergeometric probability were determined. Results areshown in Table 2 (Example 2).

The microarray data of the SJIA Study and the Autoimmune Study weresubjected to comparisons in which p-values determined by the overlapprobability method as described herein were compared with p-valuesdetermined by the hypergeometric distribution method using SJIA data andRA data. In the first comparison, the parameters selected were X=30,877,Y=3,690, M=3,489, x=805, y=329, x′=236, and y′=312 (see line 1, Table2), with m varied from 0 to 329. The resulting plot is shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, the peak of the curve (overlap probability at left,hypergeometric probability at right) represents the mean overlap of thecorresponding distribution. The mean of the hypergeometric probability(HG) distribution is known to be given by:Mean^(HG) =M(x′/M)(y′/M)

The mean of the overlap probability (OP) distribution can be calculatedby:Mean^(OP) =M(x/X)(y/Y)

Values of the overlap set (m) at a p value of 0.05 (m^(0.05)) aredepicted as vertical lines in FIG. 2, as derived from cumulativep-values. The m^(0.05) value defines the minimum number of overlappinggenes that is statistically significant. The overlap probability methodidentifies the m^(0.05) (i.e. m^(COS) at S=0.05) at an overlap set of14, whereas the hypergeometric distribution requires an overlap set ofat least 29 genes for a p value of 0.05 (m^(0.05)). Thus, thehypergeometric distribution in this example greatly underestimates thesignificance of the overlap set between SJIA and RA overlap.

A similar comparison was performed for the overlap gene set of the SJIAand ERA gene lists. The parameters used for the SJIA vs. ERA comparisonwere X=30,887, Y=3,690, M=3,489, x=805, y=500, x′=236, y′=479 (line 2 ofTable 2), varying m from 0 to 500. The resulting plot is shown in FIG.3. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the hypergeometric probability method inthis example greatly underestimates (m^(0.05)=42) the significance ofthe overlap set in comparison with the overlap probability method(m^(0.05)=19) for the SJIA and ERA overlap.

Example 4 SJIA and RA Overlap Probability Comparison of a Simulation andFormula II

Data from the SJIA/RA study, X=30,887; Y=3,690; M=3,489; x=805; andy=329 (see Table 2, line 1) were also subject to a simulation so thatsimulated probability values for overlaps (m's) of selected sizesperformed by a simulation as described elsewhere herein could becompared with the overlap probability as calculated using Formula II.The simulation for m values from 0 to 329, are shown in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Overlap Probabilities between SJIA and RA Gene List: Comparisonof Formula II and a Simulation m p (Formula II) p (Simulation)  02.608299E−04 2.632700E−04  1 2.190940E−03 2.186550E−03  2 9.162027E−039.181410E−03  3 2.543165E−02 2.541989E−02  4 5.271416E−02 5.267343E−02 5 8.703094E−02 8.701108E−02  6 1.192169E−01 1.191774E−01  71.393635E−01 1.394046E−01  8 1.419246E−01 1.419545E−01  9 1.279082E−011.279012E−01 10 1.032906E−01 1.032740E−01 11 7.549274E−02 7.547997E−0212 5.035360E−02 5.038358E−02 13 3.086444E−02 3.086540E−02 141.748885E−02 1.751286E−02 15 9.207787E−03 9.217760E−03 16 4.524495E−034.508110E−03 17 2.083053E−03 2.088820E−03 18 9.016672E−04 9.050100E−0419 3.680825E−04 3.677800E−04 20 1.421008E−04 1.421300E−04 215.200944E−05 5.323000E−05 22 1.808768E−05 1.856000E−05 23 5.989513E−066.470000E−06 24 1.892015E−06 1.980000E−06 25 5.711251E−07 6.400000E−0726 1.650067E−07 2.000000E−07 27 4.569548E−08 6.000000E−08 281.214610E−08 0.000000E+00 29 3.102709E−09 0.000000E+00 30 7.626009E−100.000000E+00 . . . 329 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00

As shown in Table 3, the overlap probability formula as described hereinprovides an exceptionally accurate p-value as compared with asimulation, even at low values of m.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific embodimentswithout departing from the spirit or essence of the invention.

1. A computer-implemented method for analyzing data from twomicroarrays, comprising: providing a first microarray and a secondmicroarray, wherein the first microarray and the second microarray arefunctionally linked to a computer system comprising an input/outputdevice capable of receiving data from a microarray reader, wherein thecomputer system comprises a processor; wherein the first microarray andthe second microarray are not identical, and wherein the firstmicroarray and the second microarray overlap at least in part to form anoverlap set having an overlap set size; and, employing the processor todetermine the probability that the overlap set size is drawn by chance,wherein determining the probability that the overlap set size is drawnby chance comprises determining a function of the total number of waysof selecting a first gene set of a first size from all genes of thefirst microarray and comprises determining a function of the totalnumber of ways of selecting a second gene set, of a second size from allgenes of the second microarray.
 2. A computer-implemented methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the probability that the overlap set sizeis selected by chance comprises determining the number of ways ofselecting any overlap set size from all genes common to both the firstmicroarray and the second microarray to obtain a first numeral, anddividing the first numeral by: (a) the number of ways of selecting thefirst gene set of the first size from the first microarray, multipliedby (b) the number of ways of selecting the second gene set of the secondsize from the second microarray.
 3. A computer-implemented methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the number of ways of selecting anyoverlap set size from all genes common to both the first microarray andthe second microarray is multiplied by a sum, over the minimum of either(a′) the number of genes of a first subset of genes of the firstmicroarray that are not common with a second subset of genes of thesecond microarray, or (b′) the number of genes common between the firstand second microarrays, excluding the number of genes common between thefirst and the second subsets of genes, of (a″) the number of ways ofchoosing a number of genes in the first subset of genes that areincluded in the second microarray but are not included in the overlapset, from the number of common genes between the two microarraysexcluding the overlap set, multiplied by, (b″) the number of ways ofchoosing a number of genes in the first subset of genes that are notincluded in the second microarray, from the number of genes in the firstmicroarray excluding genes common with the second microarray, multipliedby, (c″) the number of ways of choosing a number of genes in that partof the second subset of genes that are not in the overlap set, from thenumber of genes in the second microarray excluding those genes in thefirst subset of genes.
 4. A computer-implemented method according toclaim 1, wherein the overlap probability is determined by the formula${p(m)} = \frac{{C( {M,m} )}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{\min{({{x - m},{M - m}})}}\lbrack {( {C( {{M - m},i} )} )( {C( {{X - M},{x - i - m}} )} )( {C( {{Y - m - i},{y - m}} )} )} \rbrack}}{( {C( {X,x} )} )( {C( {Y,y} )} )}$wherein: X is the number of genes in the first array; Y is the number ofgenes in the second array; M represents the number of genes common toboth the first array and the second array; m is the number of genes inthe overlap set; x is the number of genes of the first gene set; y isthe number of genes of the second gene set; and, p(m) is the probabilityof selecting the overlap set of size m by chance.
 5. AComputer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the first geneset and the second gene set are independently selected from the groupconsisting of: genes differentially regulated in a disorder, genesdifferentially regulated in development, genes differentially regulatedbetween individual samples.
 6. A computer-implemented method accordingto claim 1, wherein the first gene set and the second gene setindependently comprise genes that are diagnostic of a disease or adisorder.
 7. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, whereinthe overlap set comprises a signature of a disease or apharmacogenomically significant metabolic type.
 8. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium containing instructions therein for causing acomputer processor to perform: calculation of the overlap probability ofa first gene set of a first size from a first microarray of genes and asecond gene set of a second size of a second microarray of genes,wherein, the first and the second microarray are not identical, and thefirst microarray and the second microarray overlap at least in part toform an overlap set having an overlap set size, according to the formula${p(m)} = \frac{{C( {M,m} )}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{\min{({{x - m},{M - m}})}}\lbrack {( {C( {{M - m},i} )} )( {C( {{X - M},{x - i - m}} )} )( {C( {{Y - m - i},{y - m}} )} )} \rbrack}}{( {C( {X,x} )} )( {C( {Y,y} )} )}$wherein: X is the number of genes in the first array; Y is the number ofgenes in the second array; M represents the number of genes common toboth the first array and the second array; m is the number of genes inthe overlap set; x is the number of genes of the first gene set; y isthe number of genes of the second gene set; and, p(m) is the probabilityof selecting the overlap set of size m by chance.
 9. A microarrayanalysis system for calculating the probability that an overlap set ofdata from two microarrays is obtained by chance, comprising: (a) amicroarray reader functionally linked to a computer system comprising aninput/output device capable of receiving data from the microarrayreader; (b) a processor of the computer system, wherein the processordetermines an overlap probability of microarray data received from themicroarray reader according to a formula stored in memory; and, (b)memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory stores a pluralityof computer-implementable instructions that cause the processor todetermine an overlap probability according to the following formula:${p(m)} = \frac{{C( {M,m} )}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{\min{({{x - m},{M - m}})}}\lbrack {( {C( {{M - m},i} )} )( {C( {{X - M},{x - i - m}} )} )( {C( {{Y - m - i},{y - m}} )} )} \rbrack}}{( {C( {X,x} )} )( {C( {Y,y} )} )}$wherein: X is the number of genes in a first array, wherein the firstarray comprises a first gene set of a first size; Y is the number ofgenes in a second array, wherein the second array comprises a secondgene set of a second size, and wherein the first and second arrays arenot identical and the first and second arrays overlap at least in partto form an overlap set; M represents the number of genes common to boththe first, array and the second array; m is the number of genes in theoverlap set; x is the number of genes of the first gene set, y is thenumber of genes of the second gene set; and, p(m) is the probability ofselecting the overlap set of size m by chance.